Newton resting after surgery

The 74-year-old's six-hour operation went ''according to plan'', the Epworth Hospital, in Richmond, has confirmed. ''His surgeon said everything proceeded according to plan and he is very happy with how things went,'' the hospital said in a statement. ''Bert is now resting comfortably in intensive care. We are keeping a close eye on him in the ICU as we do all our patients."

The TV and radio star was admitted to hospital after chest pains earlier in the week.

Newton's wife Patti said she and daughter Lauren had visited him in intensive care, where he will remain for three days before moving to a regular ward for about one week.

''I kissed him on the forehead and will leave him be,'' Patti Newton said. ''I just went in and saw him for a second, and he is not a pretty sight at the moment but hopefully that will get better.

''[He has] tubes everywhere but that is how, I suppose, you get a heart working again.

Newton has a history of heart and lung problems and was in hospital twice in the past 18 months.